Dedication Night on โDancing With the Starsโ is the episode that pulls at the heartstrings, and this year was no different. It was also the night that made co-host Alfonso Ribeiro the most โnervous.โ
During the Oct. 20 episode, Tatyana Ali honored the late James Avery. The โFresh Prince of Bel-Airโ star and partner Jan Ravnik danced a Viennese waltz to โ(You Donโt Know) How Glad I Amโ by Nancy Wilson.
Already an emotional number, it became extra heartwarming when Ali was joined by Ribeiro, who stepped in midway and replaced Ravnik.
โIt was nice. It was the first time Iโve actually felt nervous. Even my whole season, I never felt nervous,โ Ribeiro, who won Season 19 of โDWTS,โ tells TODAY.com. โBut I was nervous because I wanted to be great for her, for James Avery. It wasnโt about me.โ
Ali and Ribeiro worked alongside Avery for six seasons of the sitcom from 1990 to 1996. They portrayed siblings, Ashley and Carlton Banks, while Avery was the ever-wise, stern, yet softie dad Philip Banks. Avery died Dec. 31, 2013 at the age of 68.
For the performance, Ali waltzed around the ballroom floor with Ravnik before she and Ribeiro continued the routine in synchronized steps.
At the conclusion of the tribute, they held hands and a photo of a smiling Avery appeared on the screen. They turned to face their former TV dad, before embracing.
Ribeiro says he wanted to make the moment great for Ali, which meant making sure he didnโt miss a beat.
โWhen I was competing on the show … if I mess up, I cause harm to myself … but I had to lead Tatyana,โ he says. โI had to be the one during that part of the routine where Iโm taking the place of Jan and Iโm actually having to lead in that dance โ a dance that I never did before.โ
Ribeiro, who won with pro Witney Carson, says he never tackled the Viennese waltz. Despite the additional challenge, he says, โIt was so wonderful to be a part of that. I felt incredibly honored to be asked to be a part of their number and to represent James Avery.โ
He notes that as co-host of โDWTS,โ he takes โbeing neutral to all of the contestants very seriously.โ However, he didnโt want to pass up this opportunity.
โBut this was special because it was James Avery. James played my dad on three different sitcoms,โ he says, referring to 1995โs โIn the Houseโ and the short-lived โThings We Do for Love.โ โIt was very special to be able to do that for him, and it was nice to be able to collaborate with Jan and with Tatyana on what the story was going to be, and it was beautiful.โ
The โAmericaโs Funniest Home Videosโ host also noted that Ross Bagley, who played Nicky Banks on โFresh Prince,โ was in attendance that night, as well.
When asked if he and Ali had heard from Averyโs family following the dedication, he says yes.
โThere was a text chain with all of us, and basically everyone was like, โBeautifully said. Beautifully done. James would be very proud,โโ he shares. โSo it felt good.โ
